The Wright State women played a tough defensive battle against Eastern Kentucky on Thursday and got the win. This afternoon they would face the University of Akron and Junior Kara Murphy. Murphy was the MAC Player of the Year and an All American candidate who was 19th in the nation in points per game (19.3). Could the Lady Raiders handle another tough game? Can the Pep Band fill in for the student section, since the quarter break has begun? The answer to both is yes.

The Lady Zips started the scoring with a three point shot and would take a 5-0 lead before Wright State got on the board when Junior Ta-myra Davis hit a free throw at the 16:45 mark. It would then be a struggle for the Raiders to stay with Akron as they opened up a nine point lead. A three point shot by Sophomore Maria Bennett followed by a layup from classmate Molly Fox tied the score at 12 with 11:47 left in the half. The Lady Zips however regained the lead and would hold it until Junior Tanni Scott hit a layup for WSU to take the lead into the locker room. At the half, the Lady Raiders had the advantage 23-20.

In the first half, WSU forced 14 turnovers from Akron resulting in 10 of their points. The Raiders stole the ball nine times, blocked three shots and out-rebounded Akron 18-13. Seven of the nine Raiders scored during the half and eight had rebounds. When you consider that Senior Charne Dixon went down with a little over 4 minutes left in the half and would not return, that's not a bad start.

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Photos © and Courtesy of Tim G. Zechar

Fox was leading the team with eight points, three steals and rebounds and two blocked shots. 5-6 Senior Kanisha Ward had the third rebound in the half, while grabbing one steal, two boards, two assists and two rebounds. As a team they shot 36% (9-25) while holding Akron to 35% (7-20).

The second half saw the Lady Raiders come out of the locker and keep the Lady Zips at bay. Although Akron would fight to stay with the Raiders, the closest they could get was a three point deficit in the first minute of the half, 25-22. The Lady Raiders would open up a lead of as much as 16 points at the 1:53 mark, 57-41 before closing out the game with a win 63-49.

The Lady Raiders held Murphy to just 11 points for the game well below her average. Although Akron tried their best to put their strongest players on our key players, the Raiders were able to overcome their defense. Akron turned the ball over 24 time and even with taller players, saw Wright State control the boards 42-33. The Raiders finished the game with 13 steals and six blocked shots, while shooting 41.2% (21-51).

The Pep band in the second half stepped up and did a "Defense" chant to encourage the tough Raider defense going. I'm sure the support from those students was appreciated by the team. A s was the support from the 310 people in attendance.

Fox finished with a double-double sinking 11 points and grabbing10 rebounds. She also had two blocked shots, three steals and an assist. Ward lead the team's scoring with 16 points, two each in steals and blocks and four rebounds. In the end it was a good win for the Lady Raiders, 63-49.

This win was Coach Bridgett William's 100th Wright State Victory. Her record is now 100-137 at Wright State. She is only the second Wright State coach to attain the 100 win mark. Pat Davis is the only other coach with that magic number of WSU wins and she had 187 wins. Davis was the longest tenured women's coach at Wright State. When I asked Coach Williams after the game, she claimed she did not realize it and would like to win another 100 at WSU.

The Wright State women will now prepare to face Robert Morris who they lost to last year in a Thanksgiving Tournament Championship game, 57-65. This game is Wednesday at 7pm in the McLin Gym.

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